Monday was Memorial Day and I was busy with my family, so I didn't get to post the coloring page.
Here are both for this week...
New Free Pandemic Coloring Pages #128 & 129!
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #126!
Copy, Print, Color
#stopthestigma #MentalHealthAwareness
In case you haven't seen my other May posts for Mental Health Awareness month, check them out by scrolling down. Today's coloring page isn't just about mental health, it includes other invisible issues including illnesses and injuries. Don't judge. Don't assume. You are better off giving everyone the benefit of the doubt and just be nice. You never know what someone is going through or what they have been dealing with. Choose kindness. Offer support or even just a shoulder to lean on. Be present for your friends and family. Be present for others - even if you don't know them. Imagine what our world would look like.
Personal story - Last week, I was at an outdoor garden with my family and it was 3 or 4 miles of walking. I have bad knees, so I use a cane when walking distances. While taking pictures, I tossed the cane to the side and a group of women sitting and enjoying the mountain/garden view said, "Yea, you don't want to look like you need a cane." I've thought a lot about this. I do need a cane. There is no way I could have walked for 2 hours through the gardens and up and down stairs without it. I didn't need her comment - she should have kept it to herself. She didn't know me or have any clue what my injuries are or why I need the walking support. Keep it simple. Don't judge.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #124!
Copy, Print, Color
If you love this saying as much as I do, I have a different design of it on t-shirts and hoodies in my Etsy and you can see that listing here: Doodling Rocks. If you like this design better and think I should add it to my shop, leave me a message or tell me on Facebook. Thanks!
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #122!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
#StopTheStigma
Today is day 437 of quarantine and down here in Georgia our local schools are finishing up units, taking end of year tests and milestone tests, completing end of year projects, and preparing EOCs and final exams. Kids and teachers are ready to be done, ready for a break, ready for summer and I don't know about your family, but I can feel the stress in my house. It's Okay Not to Be Okay. I don't just mean about school stuff, about anything and everything. You are allowed to be unhappy, stressed, worried. It's okay to have bad days. Breathe. Call a friend or seek out a therapist. Talk. You can lean on someone to help you through the bad days so it isn't all on you. You are not alone in whatever you are feeling - even if it may feel that way. I'm not a therapist, but I'm always available to talk to my friends and there are many great professionals out there who are ready to talk to you. #StopTheStigma
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #120!
Copy, Print, Color
Today is day 429 of quarantine and it's May 3rd. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and with the pandemic year being soo challenging for many and those with and without mental health challenges are all feeling additional stress. I started these coloring pages last year because drawing them helps me handle both the stress and anxiety created by everything happening during the pandemic. I'm not going to list what has been causing stress, because I'm not sure that is helpful, but here's a list of just some things that could help you reduce stress or anxiety -
seeking a friend to talk to, coloring or drawing, listening to music, crocheting or knitting or painting, reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle, taking a walk, playing with a pet, baking, watching a funny movie, etc...
Whatever you use to reduce stress is for you. If these suggestions are not enough and you need more help, please contact your doctor and get a referral to a therapist - we have many great ones here in Atlanta.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #116!
Today's page is in honor of a good friend, Andy, who is battling colon cancer. He is incredibly strong. Positive. Confident. He hasn't given up. The love of his life hasn't given up. I haven't given up and neither have dozens, if not hundreds, more of his friends and family who love him. He is the bravest and strongest person that I know. He amazes me every day. Keep fighting Andy! You have got this.
Life throws you curve balls, challenges, things that you can't fathom how you will get past, but don't give up.
Inspired by such powerful people like Andy in my life, I don't give up. I was told, 25 years ago, that it was likely that I wouldn't walk again after I crushed my femur and lost the cartilage in both knees. I walk, not fast, but I walk. I was told that I'd have little functional use of my dominant arm after I broke the ulna and dislocated the radial head (same accident as the leg). I've spent more than 20 years drawing with that arm (I have since had to switch to my non-dominant arm, but I'm still drawing almost every day). Don't give up. A favorite quote is "The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn." I know that I can walk, I just walk shorter distances and sometimes use a walking support. I know that I can draw, I just had to change how I do it. I wanted to learn how to crochet 4+ years ago and I taught myself as a righty because my left arm doesn't rotate enough.
There is almost always a way around the obstacle. Find it.
Today is day 414 of quarantine. I've had both doses of the vaccine. I'm still at home. I still wear a mask on the rare occasions that I go out. I'm not going to restaurants. We need everyone to get the vaccine, but sadly, Many Georgians aren't planning to get the vaccine. I don't know why and I really don't want to know. It is their decision. It just makes me sad. The sooner we can get herd immunity, the sooner we can get some semblance of a normal life. Stay strong. Get vaccinated. Wear a mask and continue to social distance. We CAN do this.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #115
Today, I got dose #2 of the vaccine, so I am happy, and relieved. My plants are looking okay in the garden - not great yet, but this is very early for the garden, so I am happy. My kids are almost done with school for this crazy remote learning year and this also makes me happy.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #112
Copy, Print, Color
Today is day 398 of quarantine and my daughter and I did the most normal thing we've done in a year. We went to the skate park. We had our masks, in case it was crowded, which it wasn't. She had posted on social media that she was having a meetup at the skatepark and invited others to join her. We went, met new friends (keeping socially distant), she skated for 2 hours, and it was a great event. What a nice thing to see after a year of remote school and almost no social interaction with kids her age. I hope you are all being safe this spring break, but also getting to do some normal-ish stuff.
In world news - This week the Pfizer vaccine announced that it is 100 percent effective for 12-15 year olds and we are looking forward to my teens and their friends getting vaccinated.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #103!
Today is day 370 and I have seen all over the news that it is International Woman's Day. Really? Never heard of this before. I think every day should be Woman's Day - we should celebrate girl power and woman power every day! We have amazing women who are doctors, scientists, inventors, astronauts, teachers, doctors, nurses, and VICE PRESIDENTS! There is nothing women can't do. When I was a toy designer, I was paid less as a woman at 3 different companies. Women should NOT be paid less for accomplishing the same task. It's time for gender equality.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #101
YOU DECIDE...
Today is March 1st and day 363 of quarantine and it feels like March 2020 never ended. Cases each day are fewer, but still horrible numbers (70,000 a day) and we have spring breaks and Easter coming up, so YOU DECIDE.
You choose. Are you getting relaxed on quarantine restrictions? I know you are tired of being stuck at home, but we need to continue to push forward with staying careful and gets these numbers much lower.
We can't plateau this high.
Will you have a family gathering with no social distance this Easter? Are you taking a spring break vacation? If you can figure out a way to do those things safely - wearing masks, staying far from everyone outside your household, hosting your event outside, then go for it, but if you can't follow CDC guidelines - please don't wreck this for the rest of us. We are all tired of it. We all want our lives back to something remotely normal, but to do this, you need to think outside your circle.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #99!
What's out your window?
Today is day 357 of quarantine. Most of the country was hit with a huge snow storm last week, but here in Georgia, it was just really cold. My friends post pictures of beautiful snow scenes out their windows that looked like snow globes. This coloring page has the window blank so you can fill in what's out your window.
On the other side of this storm - I am sorry that those in Texas are going through horrible conditions and I hope things improve asap and that my friends out there are okay.
FYI - Straight lines are wonky, because I don't use a ruler - all of my coloring pages are freehand with my non-dominant hand as I work to improve non-dom coordination.
New Free Coloring Page #98
Today is day 352 of quarantine. With all of the January 6th info continuing to come out, more video, more audio - it is difficult to watch the violence. Sadly, there is a lot of hatred in our world, but we can make a change, if you care. Care about other people. Show kindness. Help others. Small things count. Donate your gently used toys and clothes to those in need. Deliver food and necessities to shelters. I crochet hats for Cancer patients. I know that this is a little thing, but if I make one person feel less alone, then all 200+ hats I have made and donated is worth it. Every little bit counts. Helping one person counts. Think of what the world would be like if each person helped one person, one stranger, one neighbor, anyone who needed help. Just take a moment, a half hour, an afternoon, to find a way to help others. BE THE GOOD.
FYI - I was unable to post a page on Monday because a current project that I am passionate about needed my time.
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #97!
Today is Thursday, Feb 11, 2021 and day 346 of quarantine. I wasn't able to post yesterday because it was about 70 degrees here in Georgia and I spent the day preparing my garden for the spring. Pulling weeds, turning soil. Lots of work. Obviously, this was the inspiration for today's coloring page, too, even though it is about 50 degrees and raining today.
Stay safe!
New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #95!
Today is February 1st and day 336 of quarantine. Let's talk about hobbies. I garden, I crochet hats for Cancer patients, I just added making baskets to my skills list, I paint, I draw, I write, I juggle, I bike,... People often ask me things like, "You're making a basket? How do you know you can?" My response is simple. "I don't know that I can, but I'm going to try. What's the worst that could happen?" TRY. It is a small word with a big meaning. I ask my kids to try to foods, try new skills, try challenging homework before asking for help, try. I challenge you to try something new. (not something that is a danger to you or others) You cook something that tastes bad? So what? What if it ends up being delicious? You try a new instrument and sound terrible? Keep practicing. I guarantee you will get better. You plant something and it dies? So what? Try again.
Good luck. What's the worst thing that can happen?
